Royle's fury at Wanchope

Paulo Wanchope, the Manchester City striker, may be dropped for today's derby against Manchester United due to a fall-out with his manager, Joe Royle, over the Costa Rica international's midweek trip to play for his country.

Paulo Wanchope, the Manchester City striker, may be dropped for today's derby against Manchester United due to a fall-out with his manager, Joe Royle, over the Costa Rica international's midweek trip to play for his country.

Manchester City's £4.5m record signing may well have to settle for a place on the bench at Maine Road today after angering Royle by only arriving back from World Cup duty in Guatemala yesterday. Royle was known to be unhappy that Wanchope had been on the trip at all as he felt he was less than 100 per cent fit.

Royle had wanted the striker - signed in the summer from West Ham United- to pull out of the Guatemala game and rest before City's vital fixture today, but the Costa Rican insisted that he was fit to make the long round journey to Central America. Since the incident Royle has been scouring the transfer market for replacements.

In contrast, Manchester United's Dwight Yorke is hoping to finish his career at Old Trafford. Yorke angered his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, by returning late from a World Cup qualifier earlier this season. But Yorke said yesterday: "If United want me to stay here for the rest of my career, I'm prepared to commit myself for the rest of my career."